Patuakhali houses built under shelter project in dilapidated condition

Noakhali and Feni schools in dire need of repairs

"We can't cook our food in the kitchens of the Ashrayan project during the rainy season as there is no tin shed," said Mazeda Begum, a resident of the Fatehpur Ashrayan (shelter) Project in Kalapara of Patuakhali district.
Mazeda Begum is not the only one suffering the brunt of neglect and disrepair of houses under the Ashrayan project. These houses were built in the coastal areas of the district for people affected by natural disasters after the super cyclones Sidr and Aila.
Maleka Khatun, a local resident, complained, "Local influential people tie up their domestic animals and even keep them in houses built under the project."
Khadiza Begum, a housewife in the locality, said, "The deep tube-well built under the project is not in use. So, people have to collect drinking water from distant places."
Some ultra-poor families have been living in the vulnerable houses of the Ashrayan project.
This correspondent visited some Ashrayan project sites in Kalapara upazila and found that most of the houses were in ruins as no repairs have been carried out. Even pure drinking water is absent in most of the sites. Besides, the tin and iron parts of most houses have already been stolen.
Imam Hossain, president of the Fatehpur Ashrayan project, said, "People have to go to Pakhimara Bazar from the Ashrayan project—a distance of 4 km—to find work as daily labourers. Most of the houses of the project are currently lying vacant due to lack of repairs."
Kalapara Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Motaleb Talukder said most of the houses of the project have become unfit for living. A proposal to repair them has been sent to the ministry concerned, he added.
Pupils of Hamidul Haque Government Primary School in Noakhali, under the Ashrayan project, have been taking their lessons under a decrepit tin shed, imperilling their lives. The school authorities have brought the matter several times to the knowledge of local and district administration, but to no avail, reports our Noakhali correspondent.
A similar picture is seen in Badamtali under Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni district.
Local people said children of poor people, including the landless, lived in the houses built under the Ashrayan project and their children studied in the school.
The school was established in January 1998. From the very beginning, the school has been run by four teachers, who have not received their salaries for 18 years.
During the rainy season, rainwater seeped through the roof of tin shed and damaged the furniture, said Jannatul Mokam, the headmistress of the school.
Some students complained that rainwater damaged their books.  
Recently, the district commissioner allocated 35 decimals of land to the school.
When asked, Daganbhuiyan upazila Education Officer Saiful Islam Bhuiyan said, "I've just joined. I'll visit the school and take necessary steps."

 

Patuakhali houses built under shelter project in dilapidated condition

Noakhali and Feni schools in dire need of repairs

We cant cook our food in the kitchens of the Ashrayan project during the rainy season as there is no tin shed, said Mazeda Begum, a resident of the Fatehpur Ashrayan (shelter) Project in Kalapara of Patuakhali district. Mazeda Begum is not the only one suffering the brunt of neglect and disrepair of houses under the Ashrayan project. These houses were built in the coastal areas of the district for people affected by natural disasters after the super cyclones Sidr and Aila. Maleka Khatun, a local resident, complained, Local influential people tie up their domestic animals and even keep them in houses built under the project. Khadiza Begum, a housewife in the locality, said, The deep tube-well built under the project is not in use. So, people have to collect drinking water from distant places. Some ultra-poor families have been living in the vulnerable houses of the Ashrayan project. This correspondent visited some Ashrayan project sites in Kalapara upazila and found that most of the houses were in ruins as no repairs have been carried out. Even pure drinking water is absent in most of the sites. Besides, the tin and iron parts of most houses have already been stolen. Imam Hossain, president of the Fatehpur Ashrayan project, said, People have to go to Pakhimara Bazar from the Ashrayan projecta distance of 4 kmto find work as daily labourers. Most of the houses of the project are currently lying vacant due to lack of repairs. Kalapara Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Motaleb Talukder said most of the houses of the project have become unfit for living. A proposal to repair them has been sent to the ministry concerned, he added. Pupils of Hamidul Haque Government Primary School in Noakhali, under the Ashrayan project, have been taking their lessons under a decrepit tin shed, imperilling their lives. The school authorities have brought the matter several times to the knowledge of local and district administration, but to no avail, reports our Noakhali correspondent. A similar picture is seen in Badamtali under Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni district. Local people said children of poor people, including the landless, lived in the houses built under the Ashrayan project and their children studied in the school. The school was established in January 1998. From the very beginning, the school has been run by four teachers, who have not received their salaries for 18 years. During the rainy season, rainwater seeped through the roof of tin shed and damaged the furniture, said Jannatul Mokam, the headmistress of the school. Some students complained that rainwater damaged their books. Recently, the district commissioner allocated 35 decimals of land to the school. When asked, Daganbhuiyan upazila Education Officer Saiful Islam Bhuiyan said, Ive just joined. Ill visit the school and take necessary steps.